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Cashman: Yankees committed to trying Tulowitzki at shortstop

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki to a one-year deal last week to fill their void at shortstop.

As ESPN's Jeff Passan reported, the Tulowitzki addition doesn't eliminate the Yankees from also targeting free agent Manny Machado. However, general manager Brian Cashman says the team is interested in seeing what Tulowitzki has to offer.

"I can't say what it would take us out of, but we're going into this with a commitment level to try Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop," Cashman said on Friday, according to Andy Martino of SNY.tv.

And although Machado remains an option, he would likely have to play third base for the Yankees instead of shortstop, his preferred position. Tulowitzki apparently only talked with teams who were willing to offer him the starting job at his accustomed infield spot, sources told Martino.

Right now, the Yankees are expected to feature an infield of Tulowitzki at shortstop, Miguel Andujar at third, Gleyber Torres at second, and Luke Voit at first. But Cashman told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com those plans aren't set in stone.

The Toronto Blue Jays released Tulowitzki, 34, in December after he missed the entire 2018 campaign due to a variety of injuries and needed surgeries to repair bone spurs in both feet.

A need at the position arose for the Yankees when incumbent shortstop Didi Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him through the early part of the 2019 season.

That injury, plus Gregorius' impending free agency following 2019, led to the Yankees being linked to Machado up until the Tulowitzki signing.

For his part, Tulowitzki is aware that the starting shortstop job belongs to Gregorius upon his return, Cashman told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

Cashman also said the Yankees kept Machado's agent informed as the team pursued Tulowitzki, according to Jack Curry of Yes Network.

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